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40/20 quick tap set to be scrapped

The controversial 40/20 quick tap rule is set to be axed ahead of the final three rounds of the regular season, with the NRL confirming it will be scrutinised at a competition committee meeting on Thursday.

After the farcical scenes in Parramatta's loss to Canterbury last round, the rule could be scrapped just hours before the Bulldogs host the Wests Tigers in the opening to round 24 at ANZ Stadium on Friday.

In a statement on Tuesday, NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said the rule "was already on the agenda for discussion at Thursday's upcoming Competition Committee meeting.

"The rule is designed to create an opportunity for continuous play but has evolved into a quick tap restart," the statement read.

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"The Competition Committee will consider the opportunity to put more structure around the play so it has a more controlled restart."

Parramatta were denied the opportunity to take a quick restart after a Chris Sandow 40/20 late in the match because a ball boy had not placed the ball in the correct spot on the sideline.

It was a ruled slammed as 'ridiculous' by Eels coach Brad Arthur, amid a NRL investigation into claims a match official abused the ball boys over the incident and allegedly said they cost Parramatta the match.

After concluding the investigation on Tuesday, the NRL said the ground manager had no case to answer over the allegations.